What sealer for glazed ceramic tiles?

loveisdivine

We bought Winchester tiles for our kitchen. We're doing it ourselves as it's only a very small area and we have done a small bit of tiling before. However, the brochure for these tiles says they should be sealed before being adhered to the wall with Fila MP90. Unfortunately that costs an absolute fortune, I'm trying to see if there is a cheaper alternative I can use? I've looked at other products but they don't specify that they can be used on glazed tiles. The tiles cost quite a bit so I don't want to ruin them by using the wrong product.

I could just go back to the tile shop and ask them, but they sell the expensive Fila so will probably encourage me to use that.

Any ideas?

my3cents

I'll say something stupid then you'll get a few more replies.

If the tiles are glazed ceramic whats the point sealing them?

With natural porous tiles you can seal them first so that the grout is easier to clean off after you've fixed them.

loveisdivine

my3cents wrote: »

I'll say something stupid then you'll get a few more replies.

If the tiles are glazed ceramic whats the point sealing them?

With natural porous tiles you can seal them first so that the grout is easier to clean off after you've fixed them.

Yes I've read that a lot while googling. But the brochure specifically says to do it. It has symobls next to each tile and the ones we bought have the symbol for the below.

"CRAZED AND CRACKLE TILES MUST BE SEALED
ALL crazed and crackle tiles should be sealed with an impregnator before fixing, for use in both wet and dry areas.
This stops any moisture penetrating the body of the tile and causing discoloration once installed. In dry installations
impregnating allows for the easy removal of grout from the crazing/crackle. Impregnate again after grouting. They should
then be resealed after 90 days of installation and then again after one year. Crackle glazes and crazed tiles will continue to
crackle/craze for several months, and so as this occurs each new crackle/craze line becomes unsealed.
Suitable impregnators are LTP2905 and Fila MP90"

sligojoek

Could you put up a picture of the tile?

twignme

loveisdivine wrote: »

Yes I've read that a lot while googling. But the brochure specifically says to do it. It has symobls next to each tile and the ones we bought have the symbol for the below.

"CRAZED AND CRACKLE TILES MUST BE SEALED
ALL crazed and crackle tiles should be sealed with an impregnator before fixing, for use in both wet and dry areas.


That's crazed, not glazed. The crackle and crazed surface would be porous along the crazing.

loveisdivine

The description does say glazed though. Here are the tiles - https://www.winchestertiles.com/details?product=W.EG1004

I won't be able to take a picture of the actual tile til later.

sligojoek

THey look to be glazed. It says "gloss" in the description. I don't think there's a need for a sealer.

When you get the tiles put a small mark with a marker in one corner. Leave it half an hour and see does it wipe off.

loveisdivine

sligojoek wrote: »

THey look to be glazed. It says "gloss" in the description. I don't think there's a need for a sealer.

When you get the tiles put a small mark with a marker in one corner. Leave it half an hour and see does it wipe off.

OK will do. 2 sides of each tile have the "glaze" so I can do it there cos then it wont be seen even if it does stain.

The brochure/company could just be covering their own back by saying to do it, I just don't want to bugger it up after spending so much.

samdavis

LTP Glaze Protector cost 23 euro/litre, the following gives you a good explanation for why they should be sealed.


https://www.ltp-online.co.uk/blog/crackle-glaze-tiles-why-the-need-to-seal-

my3cents

samdavis wrote: »

LTP Glaze Protector cost 23 euro/litre, the following gives you a good explanation for why they should be sealed.


https://www.ltp-online.co.uk/blog/crackle-glaze-tiles-why-the-need-to-seal-

So you aren't really sealing the glazed part of the tile you are actually sealing the cracks in the glazing.

twignme

my3cents wrote: »

So you aren't really sealing the glazed part of the tile you are actually sealing the cracks in the glazing.

Yup, that’s what I referred to in my earlier post. The tile in the photo looks to have a crazed finish.

sligojoek

loveisdivine wrote: »

OK will do. 2 sides of each tile have the "glaze" so I can do it there cos then it wont be seen even if it does stain.

The brochure/company could just be covering their own back by saying to do it, I just don't want to bugger it up after spending so much.

I'm just having a proper look on a laptop now. Those "etchings" for want of a better word could be porous alright. Are they below or above the surface of the glaze? Try the marker on a 5mm bit of that as close to the edge as possible. There's going to have to be a tile cut somewhere in the job so leave that one aside for cutting if you can't remove the stain.

sligojoek

samdavis wrote: »

LTP Glaze Protector cost 23 euro/litre, the following gives you a good explanation for why they should be sealed.


https://www.ltp-online.co.uk/blog/crackle-glaze-tiles-why-the-need-to-seal-

twignme wrote: »

loveisdivine wrote: »

Yes I've read that a lot while googling. But the brochure specifically says to do it. It has symobls next to each tile and the ones we bought have the symbol for the below.

"CRAZED AND CRACKLE TILES MUST BE SEALED
ALL crazed and crackle tiles should be sealed with an impregnator before fixing, for use in both wet and dry areas.


That's crazed, not glazed. The crackle and crazed surface would be porous along the crazing.

Sorry. I hadn't read these posts properly before posting the above. samdavis link says it all. I was thinking of something different.

monkeynuz

“The tiles cost a lot”

You want to to do a good job.

So why not just buy the recommended product.

If you can’t afford the proper sealer then you should have just bought cheaper tiles rather than messing around with posh ones and then being cheap about the rest of it.

loveisdivine

monkeynuz wrote: »

“The tiles cost a lot”

You want to to do a good job.

So why not just buy the recommended product.

If you can’t afford the proper sealer then you should have just bought cheaper tiles rather than messing around with posh ones and then being cheap about the rest of it.

I can afford the recommended one, however I wanted to know if there was actually any difference between the product that costs €80 per litre and one that costs €30 per litre.

Even if I were a millionaire, why would I waste money on a product that's over twice the price but exactly the same? That's why I was trying to clarify it.

If I just threw money at every "recommended" product going then I soon wouldn't have any.

monkeynuz

loveisdivine wrote: »

I can afford the recommended one, however I wanted to know if there was actually any difference between the product that costs €80 per litre and one that costs €30 per litre.

Even if I were a millionaire, why would I waste money on a product that's over twice the price but exactly the same? That's why I was trying to clarify it.

If I just threw money at every "recommended" product going then I soon wouldn't have any.

If you don’t want to/can’t pay for the recommended product then don’t buy the show off product that is essentially beyond your means and instead cut your cloth accordingly.

loveisdivine

monkeynuz wrote: »

If you don’t want to/can’t pay for the recommended product then don’t buy the show off product that is essentially beyond your means and instead cut your cloth accordingly.

I didn't buy the tiles because they were expensive, I bought them because they were the colour and style I wanted.

With all do respect my financial situation is none of your business. However, the tiles are not beyond my means.

The reason I can afford to buy the exact tiles I wanted is because I don't throw money around when it's not necessary, hence me trying to find out if a certain product is genuinely necessary, or if a cheaper product will do the same job.

How do you think rich people stay rich? Is it because they throw money around buying the most expensive version of everything they need? Or is it because they are sensible with money and only pay the higher prices when it's warranted?

Anyway, this is entirely off topic. I've purchased the LPT sealer and hope to make a start at the weekend, thanks everyone

dodzy

monkeynuz wrote: »

“The tiles cost a lot”

You want to to do a good job.

So why not just buy the recommended product.

If you can’t afford the proper sealer then you should have just bought cheaper tiles rather than messing around with posh ones and then being cheap about the rest of it.

monkeynuz wrote: »

If you don’t want to/can’t pay for the recommended product then don’t buy the show off product that is essentially beyond your means and instead cut your cloth accordingly.

Jealous rant much ?

monkeynuz

dodzy wrote: »

Jealous rant much ?

Haha absolutely not, but why spend money and then cut corners?

It’s all top show, I can’t stand people who buy the look and then want it finished on the cheap, it’s a bit pathetic.

You either buy something and then do the recommended preparation/care or buy something less money intensive.

It’s a bit like people buying an expensive car and then putting cheap tyres on because they can’t afford the proper make.

loveisdivine

monkeynuz wrote: »

Haha absolutely not, but why spend money and then cut corners?

It’s all top show, I can’t stand people who buy the look and then want it finished on the cheap, it’s a bit pathetic.

You either buy something and then do the recommended preparation/care or buy something less money intensive.

It’s a bit like people buying an expensive car and then putting cheap tyres on because they can’t afford the proper make.

What if those tyres are rated the same, do the same job and last the same amount of time? But one costs more because it has a different name on it?

Again, not that it's any of your business, but the only people seeing these tiles will be me and my husband (we rarely if ever have guests). So the suggestion we are doing it for show is just nonsense. Also, you keep suggesting I can't afford to buy the higher priced item, and calling me pathetic for it, when I have clarified that I can, I just don't want to if I don't need to.

Shops must see you coming a mile off.

monkeynuz

loveisdivine wrote: »

What if those tyres are rated the same, do the same job and last the same amount of time? But one costs more because it has a different name on it?

Again, not that it's any of your business, but the only people seeing these tiles will be me and my husband (we rarely if ever have guests). So the suggestion we are doing it for show is just nonsense. Also, you keep suggesting I can't afford to buy the higher priced item, and calling me pathetic for it, when I have clarified that I can, I just don't want to if I don't need to.

Shops must see you coming a mile off.

No, they don’t but if it’s a manufacturer recommended item then why bother to find an alternative.

I am perfectly happy with my choices thanks very much.

samdavis

loveisdivine wrote: »

Yes I've read that a lot while googling. But the brochure specifically says to do it. It has symobls next to each tile and the ones we bought have the symbol for the below.

"CRAZED AND CRACKLE TILES MUST BE SEALED
ALL crazed and crackle tiles should be sealed with an impregnator before fixing, for use in both wet and dry areas.
This stops any moisture penetrating the body of the tile and causing discoloration once installed. In dry installations
impregnating allows for the easy removal of grout from the crazing/crackle. Impregnate again after grouting. They should
then be resealed after 90 days of installation and then again after one year. Crackle glazes and crazed tiles will continue to
crackle/craze for several months, and so as this occurs each new crackle/craze line becomes unsealed.
Suitable impregnators are LTP2905 and Fila MP90"

In fact LTP was the other product recommended for sealing, I don't think the op was cutting corners at all. Happy you got sorted

loveisdivine

samdavis wrote: »

In fact LTP was the other product recommended for sealing, I don't think the op was cutting corners at all. Happy you got sorted

The only reason I didn’t mention the LPT option initially is because when I googled that number nothing came up. The other poster obviously knew the right name for it.

I think I’ve made the right choice and saved €50 in the process

joombo

loveisdivine wrote: »

The only reason I didn’t mention the LPT option initially is because when I googled that number nothing came up. The other poster obviously knew the right name for it.

I think I’ve made the right choice and saved €50 in the process

That's great. I started kitchen renovation and I want to use ceramic tiles too. I googled the best Italian brands and found one store here with affordable prices and scheduled delivery. They offer high-quality tiles on every taste.